Fence-post



B. B. ROBBINS.

FENCE POST.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1898.)

No. 6|s,3|s. Patented No v. l, I898.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD B. ROBBINS, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,316, dated November 1, 1898. Application filed February 28, 1898. Serial llo. 671,998. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD B. ROBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention is an improvement in fenceposts; and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which illustrate one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following descriptionand claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a post embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same, showing it in position in the ground and provided with an anchor-block. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the post. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a post having its lower portion disposed at an angle to the upper portion. Fig. 5 is a view of a similar post provided with two folding anchor-engaging arms instead of one.

In the manufacture of fence-posts which are adapted to be driven into the ground it has been proposed heretofore to provide the post adjacent to its lower end with pivoted arms adapted to stand in vertical positions while the post is being driven and to be brought into horizontal positions by partially withdrawing the post or by partially revolving the same, so that said arms will form an anchorage for the post. These devices, however, have ordinarily been of such size and so connected with the post that they offer serious resistance in driving the post into the ground, and if said arms are to be extended by withdrawing the post a short distance it must be driven farther into the ground than necessary, and if said arms are to be extended by turning the post in the ground only a 'post of substantially circular cross-section can be employed. Furthermore, the only anchorage aiforded to the post is the bearing which these arms have in the soil, and even if they are made large enough to seriously interfere with the driving of the post they have comparatively little eifect as anchors.

The object of my invention is to provide a drive-post to which is attached a short rigid anchorengaging arm adapted to fold alongside of a portion of the post, so as not to interfere to any degree with the driving of the post and which can swing outwardly and downwardly to a limited extent only. Such a post can be driven into the ground like an ordinary drive-post and allowed to remain if no anchorage is desired or needed. If, how= ever, it is desired to anchor the post, a small hole is dug at one side of the post down to the depth at which the arm stands, and the said arm is then moved into a substantially hori zontal position, after which a heavy anchorblock, which may be a large stone or piece of metal or wood or other material, is placed in the hole, so that it rests upon the said arm, and the soil is then replaced above the anchor-block. By using this construction of post it may be anchored in the ground as firmly as desired, depending upon the size and weight of the anchor-block.

In the drawings, A represents a straight drive-post formed of angle-iron and provided on one side with a series of struck-up wireengaging hooks at. About midway between the bottom or point of the post and the ground-line the post is provided with the arm B, which I term the anchor-engaging arm. This arm is secured to the inside of one flange of the post, preferably by means of a rivet b, and may be of any desired length. In practice I prefer to make it very short, as it need only be long enough to properly engage the anchor-block. This arm is preferably made of sheet material of substantially the same thickness as the material from which the angle-iron post is made and will be of the same width as the flange of said post to which it is attached, so that when in vertical or folded position (see Figs. 1 and 3) it lies within the post and will offer practically no resistance in driving the post into the ground. The lower end of the arm B is provided with a locking edge 1), adapted to engage the other flange of the post when the arm is turned down into operative position and prevent the further downward movement of the arm. I

prefer to make this edge Z) at an angle to the upper edge of said arm, so that the arm will incline slightly upward when in operative position,'which will tend to prevent the anchorblock from working off of said arm by the action of the frost on the ground.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a post in all respects similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, except that the lower portion A is bent at a slight angle to the upper part of the post.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a post similar to that shown in Fig. 4 provided with two anchorengaging arms, one attached to the inner side of each of the flanges of the post, and this form may be employed for purposes where an unusually firm anchorage is desired, as in the end or corner post. In using this post one secure by Letl. A fence-post formed of angle-iron provided between its ends with an anchorengaging arm pivoted thereto on the side of one of the angular flanges of thepost,and adapted to lie close to and in line with said flange when the post is driven, and means for limiting the downward movement of said anchor-engaging arm, substantially as described.

2. A fence-post formed of angle-iron, and provided with an anchor-engaging arm pivoted to the inner face of one flange of the post and provided with a locking edge to engage the other flange and limit the downward movement of the arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD B. ROBBIN S.

Witnesses:

DORA D. RENIFF, E. L. MILLS. 

